THE STRUTS

Young & Dangerous INTERSCOPE/ POLYDOR

Few things make us happier than a genuinely exciting new band. Except, of course, one that fulfills their early promise and makes a second album that’s better than the first. Formed in Derby but now largely based in the USA, The Struts turned heads with their joyously glitzy debut, Everybody Wants. This year they upped their game by enhancing everything we loved about them (the glitter, palatial tunes and nods to Queen, the Stones and prime 70s glam) and adding a whole load of contemporary production ideas, bold pop streaks, smarter lyrics and musical diversity. It didn’t ‘play safe’ and still it was utterly lovable. Brilliant. PG

Killer track: Primadonna Like Me